Allow Escambia and Santa Rosa Children to watch the President
"President Barack Obama will directly address millions of school children across the country in a 20-minute speech via TV broadcast, webcast and radio on Tuesday morning.
During the address, Obama will speak about persisting and succeeding in school, and challenge students to work hard, set educational goals and take responsibility for their learning, according to the U.S. Department of Education.
All students, teachers and school workers are invited to watch the historic moment, which will occur during school hours.
But by and large, students in Escambia and Santa Rosa county public schools will not be watching.
We do not let teachers just watch television. Its going to have to fit with what theyre teaching the children, said Escambia Superintendent Malcolm Thomas. in a district where our students struggle. We have bell-to-bell instruction, and we dont want to waste a single minute.
Thomas said the message will be recorded and reviewed by teachers. If the message can be fit into curriculum, teachers may submit a request to show the speech to students at a later date. He said some exceptions may be made for social studies classes to watch the speech live.
In Santa Rosa County, Bill Price, assistant superintendent of curriculum, said officials are still developing a plan but tentatively will follow the same course of action as Escambia County.
District officials said parents called schools all day Thursday to inquire or complain about the possibility of the speech airing during school hours.
I dont understand what the point is of him going into classrooms, especially the little ones, unless he wants to spread propaganda and let them think about how great he is, said Jean Cobb, 67, a former Escambia County teacher and mother to three children who passed through the school system. Parents should have the chance to review this or opt out.
Parents with concerns should contact their individual schools. Officials in both districts said parents would have the opportunity to opt their child out, in the event that a teacher decided to air the recorded speech in class.
Some students were upset to hear that they might miss out on a message intended for them.
CHes the president. Hes not just going to interrupt classes for no reason, said Pensacola High School senior Mariah Franklin, 17.
Deasia Green, 15, said she thinks that all students in every class should be able to view the live broadcast.
When the president was inaugurated they let us watch it, but now he%u2019s talking about school to us and we cant watch it, said the PHS freshman.
The Department of Education also provided lesson guides for teachers to create a class curriculum around the speech, recommending group discussion about the presidents message, ways to help their school and how to be successful in education
It really could be disrupting education, said Norma Jennings, grandmother to three A.K. Suter Elementary students. Fifteen minutes can really be a distraction if its not geared toward a social studies plan because they have to set it up and then talk about it after."
"President Barack Obama will directly address millions of school children across the country in a 20-minute speech via TV broadcast, webcast and radio on Tuesday morning.
During the address, Obama will speak about persisting and succeeding in school, and challenge students to work hard, set educational goals and take responsibility for their learning, according to the U.S. Department of Education.
All students, teachers and school workers are invited to watch the historic moment, which will occur during school hours.
But by and large, students in Escambia and Santa Rosa county public schools will not be watching.
We do not let teachers just watch television. Its going to have to fit with what theyre teaching the children, said Escambia Superintendent Malcolm Thomas. in a district where our students struggle. We have bell-to-bell instruction, and we dont want to waste a single minute.
Thomas said the message will be recorded and reviewed by teachers. If the message can be fit into curriculum, teachers may submit a request to show the speech to students at a later date. He said some exceptions may be made for social studies classes to watch the speech live.
In Santa Rosa County, Bill Price, assistant superintendent of curriculum, said officials are still developing a plan but tentatively will follow the same course of action as Escambia County.
District officials said parents called schools all day Thursday to inquire or complain about the possibility of the speech airing during school hours.
I dont understand what the point is of him going into classrooms, especially the little ones, unless he wants to spread propaganda and let them think about how great he is, said Jean Cobb, 67, a former Escambia County teacher and mother to three children who passed through the school system. Parents should have the chance to review this or opt out.
Parents with concerns should contact their individual schools. Officials in both districts said parents would have the opportunity to opt their child out, in the event that a teacher decided to air the recorded speech in class.
Some students were upset to hear that they might miss out on a message intended for them.
CHes the president. Hes not just going to interrupt classes for no reason, said Pensacola High School senior Mariah Franklin, 17.
Deasia Green, 15, said she thinks that all students in every class should be able to view the live broadcast.
When the president was inaugurated they let us watch it, but now he%u2019s talking about school to us and we cant watch it, said the PHS freshman.
The Department of Education also provided lesson guides for teachers to create a class curriculum around the speech, recommending group discussion about the presidents message, ways to help their school and how to be successful in education
It really could be disrupting education, said Norma Jennings, grandmother to three A.K. Suter Elementary students. Fifteen minutes can really be a distraction if its not geared toward a social studies plan because they have to set it up and then talk about it after."
We feel that the very act of behaving this way is propaganda cast upon the children that trust you to give them ALL the information they need to know to nourish their ability to learn to think critically, and behave with respect towards those that don't think like we do. It is also a decidedly anti-establishment, and anti-democratic message with possible racist undertones attached to it.
We feel that our children should have the opportunity to partake in this historical event, and that it is much much more than "Just letting our teachers and students watch TV". Your students are allowed to watch noneducational videos as rewards, or not allowed to watch them as punishment. Yet, this, a historical live event by the President of this great country in which we live is being cut from the school's itinerary on Tuesday morning.
We want children everywhere to take part in this event, and if your policy isn't changed, we reserve the right to withhold our children from school on Tuesday, Sept. 8th, so they can watch the President's message from home, and may follow that act with other forms of retaliation.
LET THE STUDENTS WATCH IT IS ABOUT THEM AFTER ALL
I didn't see this petition before hand but I am signing it now out of outrage! I have four children in the Escambia County School District and not one of them saw the speech given Tuesday. I can't believe the amount of disrespect. Where are the southern values and the great morals we are so proud of down here? Seriously, I thought about moving for a second!
Let the students watch the speech. This is ridicules. There is no reason why the children should not watch the speech. Look back at 9/11. All schools stopped everything they were doing to watch what happened during 9/11, this took up hours of the day. What is the big difference? This could only positively impact the children's lives. Give the students the choice to watch it or not...
Let students see the Barack Obama speech via TV broadcast.
What planet do you people live on or what drugs are you all taking??? What is the problem with a child every child listening to the President of the United States encouraging them to stay in school and do the best that they possibly can. That hard work is something to be proud of and the way to realize your goals in life. I have heard things about how he is going to use this hidden agenda he has when he speaks to the children , do you reall think the kids are going to be interested in his health reform bill or know exactly what he is talking about for the most part? Some of the older kids may understand those things but I think the majority are just going to listen to the President with awe and think to themselves WOW! he's talking directly to us kids. This could be very important and i maybe able to do something to help this planet to overcome it's difficulties and start resolving those issues to make a better place for al of us to live.
I used to be a student of Escambia County. I know that if I were one of those students, I would want to hear the President's message. And why shouldn't students hear encouragement to work hard and study? Isn't that what we want them to do?
My child will be withdrawn from school to view this at home with me tomorrow, then I will return her to school. After much discussion, she has decided on her own to do this, age 12. It is a shame that we, in a democratic nation, where the president was chosen by the people can not rally around him and support such a positive message. Shame on schools who decided to fold due to the dissenting voices. Unfortunately supportive folks are not as likely to voice their support as naysayers are to stomp their feet. I wholeheartedly support a positive role models for the students.
I truly don't understand why schools are refusing to show the President's message. Here in Jamaica it is also back to school week. I know our educators and students would welcome such an inspiring message. I plan to circulate the President's message widely here!
Dear County Commissioner, Subject: Blocking the President speech Never in my life time would I have imagined that school children would be block from a speech give for these children by the Commander and Chief of the United States of America. Censorship will only divide and keep ignorant’s alive. Please let the president talk and encourage the kids in our school system. Sincerely Scott Dawkins
Ignorance! And some of you call yourself Educators. I pray for your soul.
Is this a joke? The President of the United States wants to tell school kids to work hard and stay in school and parents are UPSET about it? How is that indoctrinating them? I would hope that parents and teachers are seding that message everyday. President Regan did this, so did the first President Bush. I don't remember a big stink about that. I am a teacher. I know how many interrupts there are to a school day. Teachers can handle a 15 minute disruption for a good cause, and having the most powerful man in the world (regardless of how you feel about his political beliefs) tell kids to work hard is a good use of time. Don't let your ignorance and anger over his political actions cloud your reasoning abilities.
I want my grandchildren to see the president of the United States. My children did not have a choice, they had to listen to all of the other president's and none of them was black. I want the same chance as the other President's. I think it is a SHAME that this can even happen in these United States of America in today's times.
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES!!!!!!!!!!HELLOOOO! WAKE UP, GET BEYOND THE POLITICAL AGENDA! PATHETIC.
The decision you made not to broadcast President Obama's speech on Tuesday is shameful. He is the role model for many of our students that we have been waiting for. Since when should students be deprived of learning to respect the Office of the President regardless of one's affiliation?
I already contacted my school board rep-this is embarassing for our area.
My grandchildren should not be denied listening to their President in their classroom. Children in Pace High School were forced to pray, but will be denied the right to listen to the Leader of the Free World,,maybe not free in Santa Rosa School system.
Let schools across the country, the ACLU, and the President of the Unites States know how you feel about this!
I just can't believe they have the audacity to claim it's because they are too busy, they can't possibly spare the time to watch a short presidential speech - a historic moment where a president decided took the time out of his day (he isn't as busy as Santa Rosa schools? really?) to address children across the US about the importance of working hard and taking responsibility for themselves and their education. If they were so concerned about parent choice, why don't they send home a permission slip? The transparency and shudder-inducing dishonesty and blatant discrimination (whether racial, political, or both) is shocking even to me - and I live here!
He is the President of The United States Of America. He was elected by the electoral college on behalf of the citizens of this country. I do not have children nor do I intend to. Frankly bringing a child into this world with the bleak outlook for their adulthood is quite selfish. Additionally, expecting those who have no children to foot the bill for you selfish a!@h*%!s to pump kids out and suck off the government teet is RIDICULOUS. Here is a thought, I PAY FOR YOUR KIDS TO GO TO SCHOOL SO I DEMAND THEY LISTEN TO OUR PRESIDENT WHEN HE ADDRESSES THEM IN THE DAMN SCHOOL I HELPED PAY FOR. Shut your ignorant mouth and hear what the PRESIDENT has to say or move to another country with your non tax paying government educated children. On another note, could you please voluntarily submit to steralization, so we don't have to deal with any more of your genetics in the gene pool? Just putting that out there. That way you don't have to worry about our President corrupting your kids in our country where our classrooms are located by the school districts on the government payroll. Now thats the way to shelter your children. DON'T HAVE THEM!
Why do our schools hate America?
The bigotry here is absolutely shameful-and it is very, very, obvious. This is all about skin-color-who are they kidding? To refuse to allow school-children to hear a speech by the President of the United States is positively disgraceful. It is also as un-American as un-American can be. Absolute ignorance. Shame on all of em'! Makes me ahamed to admit I share my country with people like this! Appalling.
I can't believe how the fringes of society are so paranoid they are making this into a political issue. I want my kids to hear from their President, especially one who is well-educated himself, about the importance of working hard and taking personal responsibility for their lives.
It really depresses me to see how much hate is still in america.
This seed of hate has grown too large. It needs to stop! Keep the kids home if you're that nuts, but let the schools show OUR president speaking to our children. Your stupid is showing again folks!!!
- View Signatures:
- |<
- <
- 55
- >
- >|
